Page 202 - PDI Vol 2

7) Building of local institutions like SHGs /
8) Access to financial services
9) Promote resilient agricultural practices for sensitizing farmers
Actions Required

If a Panchayat wants to become a Poverty free Panchayat, it needs to create opportunities to raise income levels of those BPL, and it
must also ensure for safety nets and social protection for the poor and marginalized sections. Hence in the measure for Poverty
reduction and livelihoods enhancement the Panchayat needs to take action on the following areas:

a) Poverty reduction: Poverty is a significant issue in many villages around the world, and eliminating it can improve the
standard of living for those affected. Poverty reduction can help to improve access to basic needs such as food, shelter, clean
water, and healthcare.

b) Economic growth: Poverty reduction can also contribute to economic growth in villages. When people are lifted out of
poverty, they have more resources to invest in their businesses, education, and healthcare, which can lead to increased
productivity and economic growth.
c) Social stability: Poverty often leads to social unrest and instability. Addressing poverty in villages can help to promote
social stability, which can lead to safer and more secure communities.

d) Improved health outcomes: Poverty is a significant contributor to poor health outcomes, including malnutrition,
communicable diseases, and mental health issues. Addressing poverty can help to improve the health outcomes of individuals
and communities.

e) Sustainable development: Sustainable development involves balancing economic, social, and environmental factors to
ensure that progress is made in a way that benefits current and future generations. Addressing poverty in villages is an
important step towards sustainable development, as it can help to create more equitable and inclusive communities that are
better positioned to achieve long-term development goals.
Process Actions

Towards becoming a Panchayat that is Poverty free and moving on the road of prosperity, proper processes have to be followed in
implementation schemes to ensure that all the basic services are a available to citizens.
a) Education: we need to ensure that all children go to school and do not drop out of school. This in turn means ensuring
that basic facilities such as teachers, books, even roads and toilets in schools are present and functioning in the GP.

b) Health: Ill health is a drain on resources. Loss of wages and related medical expenses can easily turn a prosperous
family into destitute. Health Insurance and reduced out of pocket expenditure with support during illness is required.

c) Housing, sanitation, social protection: which are all basic services that impact health, wellbeing and ultimately poverty
d) Opportunities for employment: Creation of labour banks, skilling farmers on mechanization, access to various
government schemes for income generation can all contribute towards creating employment opportunities

e) Enabling environment for thrift and credit, micro finance, opening of bank accounts, financial inclusion by banks, and
linkages with banks- this will make financing a micro enterprise easier within a short span of time. A critical outcome may be
the disappearance of money lenders from the village. This will have very significant impact on reducing rural poverty.

f) Improving land productivity: This would ensure availability of safe and nutritious food, which will in turn improve
health and income of the poor.

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Theme 1: Poverty Free and Enhanced Livelihoods Village